From: Zack Ham <zack@ridewithgps.com> Date: December 30, 2023 at 10:38:41 AM EST To: Pete T <peteandtess@gmail.com> Cc: cullen@ridewithgps.com Subject:Re: It's been quite a ride!
Hi Pete,
What a wonderful message. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences with Chip & John. I love reading stories like these. I passed your message along to Kevin Prentice, and I'm sure it will make his day. He's been with Ride with GPS for 10 years now. Your points about us holding important memories hits the nail right on the head–we have a lot of fun, and we're running a business, BUT we recognize that what we're doing has a very serious side to it. We talk about the importance of this all the time.
What you guys did was incredible and for those of us who hopped on board, irreplaceable!!!
Like you just said, and by the way, said it so well, it was 17 short years ago. Helll I've got hiking boots older than that…. But you guys set out to do something, persue an interest, a hobby, an idea but the thing you built is the safe box of people's lives. When you guys started there were several popular tracking apps out there but from the very start I was into Ride with GPS. I don't know exactly why but it was something about your honesty. Something approachable and something real. It was also Kevin Prentice, who got back to me with answers and showed interest in my ideas. Anyway I just always used Ride with GPS and always talked about it when I was riding or hiking with friends. In my mind and in my opinion you have the best planning and tracking app out there and now, like I said, you hold years and years of memories for myself and apparently millions of other people. You are our Journal, Our Memories basically our Histories are entrusted to your app. I think that your letter, the personal tone of your letter is exactly why I am writing this email response now and validates the trust I put in you so many, this one's 13, years ago. And man when I look at the pictures I saved with this ride in 2009, I was a whole different person. Chip is still hiking ridiculous miles every weekend where now I hobble along with a cane. But I can still meet him for lunch because I can create his route, pinpoint a spot to meet and navigate to the trail head or to lunch spot. By being able to create a route, I can determine the actual number of miles and elevation to expect in the ride or hike. Then I can look back on the actual miles recorded in the ride or hike and the pictures of people, the scenery and the thoughts I had along the way. I forget stuff but Ride with GPS remembers. Ride with GPS was there when I was planning and leading the Novice Bike Rides right down the street, to the hundred milers I forced myself to do. RWGPS was there with us when my wife and I went to Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, a weekend in Blowing Rock, my hikes with my best friend on the Art Loeb, John Rock in Pisgah and the Foothills Trail in SC. Carl Sandburg and DuPont Forrest…. Chip had a quest to do every trail in Pisgah. He just completed 105 trails. John had a quest to do every trail in DuPont, we did them all. Somehow Ride with GPS provides a format and a motivation to do all these things. We would joke that if we forgot to turn it on, it didn't count and we'd have to start over. Believe me, I Never forgot to turn it on… turn it off, maybe, but then I can go back and fix that. These were once in a lifetime experiences and I will never go back to those places but I can go back anytime thanks to Ride with GPS. Thanks to you two guys who decided to do something and stick with it. Working those days and nights and following that obsession to do it right. You created a legacy and you can and should feel proud as punch for doing it.
From: Pete T <peteandtess@gmail.com> Date: December 30, 2023 at 8:33:19 AM EST To: zack@ridewithgps.com, cullen@ridewithgps.com Subject:It's been quite a ride!
Zack and Cullen,
What you guys did was incredible and for those of us who hopped on board, irreplaceable!!!
Like you just said, and by the way, said it so well, it was 17 short years ago. Helll I've got hiking boots older than that…. But you guys set out to do something, persue an interest, a hobby, an idea but the thing you built is the safe box of people's lives. When you guys started there were several popular tracking apps out there but from the very start I was into Ride with GPS. I don't know exactly why but it was something about your honesty. Something approachable and something real. It was also Kevin Prentice, who got back to me with answers and showed interest in my ideas. Anyway I just always used Ride with GPS and always talked about it when I was riding or hiking with friends. In my mind and in my opinion you have the best planning and tracking app out there and now, like I said, you hold years and years of memories for myself and apparently millions of other people. You are our Journal, Our Memories basically our Histories are entrusted to your app. I think that your letter, the personal tone of your letter is exactly why I am writing this email response now and validates the trust I put in you so many, this one's 13, years ago. And man when I look at the pictures I saved with this ride in 2009, I was a whole different person. Chip is still hiking ridiculous miles every weekend where now I hobble along with a cane. But I can still meet him for lunch because I can create his route, pinpoint a spot to meet and navigate to the trail head or to lunch spot. By being able to create a route, I can determine the actual number of miles and elevation to expect in the ride or hike. Then I can look back on the actual miles recorded in the ride or hike and the pictures of people, the scenery and the thoughts I had along the way. I forget stuff but Ride with GPS remembers. Ride with GPS was there when I was planning and leading the Novice Bike Rides right down the street, to the hundred milers I forced myself to do. RWGPS was there with us when my wife and I went to Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, a weekend in Blowing Rock, my hikes with my best friend on the Art Loeb, John Rock in Pisgah and the Foothills Trail in SC. Carl Sandburg and DuPont Forrest…. Chip had a quest to do every trail in Pisgah. He just completed 105 trails. John had a quest to do every trail in DuPont, we did them all. Somehow Ride with GPS provides a format and a motivation to do all these things. We would joke that if we forgot to turn it on, it didn't count and we'd have to start over. Believe me, I Never forgot to turn it on… turn it off, maybe, but then I can go back and fix that. These were once in a lifetime experiences and I will never go back to those places but I can go back anytime thanks to Ride with GPS. Thanks to you two guys who decided to do something and stick with it. Working those days and nights and following that obsession to do it right. You created a legacy and you can and should feel proud as punch for doing it.
From: Ride with GPS <newsletter@rwgps.com> Date: December 30, 2023 at 6:01:46 AM EST To: peteandtess@gmail.com Subject:A Message From Our Founders Reply-To: feedback@ridewithgps.com
17 short years has led us to this point... expect big things in 2024 from Ride with GPS. In the beginning, we weren't building a team, a business, or even a product–we were just two friends with a nugget of an idea.
Seventeen years ago, I called up Cullen and asked if he wanted to work on a cool project. In the beginning, we weren't building a team, a business, or even a product–we were just two friends with a nugget of an idea. As weekends approached, I'd leave Eugene, OR and head up to his house in Corvallis. Days blurred into nights. Months blurred into years. Looking back, it all collapses into one scene:
Pacing past each other in Cullen's living room. Facing off with two large porcelain whiteboards. Staring at our ideas, made messy and ugly as we pulled them into contact with reality. Obsessive, shared focus. Suspension of disbelief. The feeling that we had… something.
In time, I've realized that something wasn't a collection of features, a website, or an app. That something was the opportunity to commit our working lives to inspiring and supporting great experiences outdoors. It was the idea that we could start with only our talent & love for writing code, and meticulously build a product, a business, a team, and ultimately an enterprise dedicated to creating joy, camaraderie, and a connection to the world outside.
There are 36 of us now, and there are millions of you. But the world is a big place, and there is much for us to do. This coming year, we're doubling down on our goal to connect you with the best route for you, wherever you are. Stay tuned for new, core functionality that layers confidence-inspiring information across all existing routes. As for those routes, expect to see even more from our decade-long program of partnering with local cycling organizations to curate the world's best library of bike routes. And we've got a few big surprises coming as well.
My wish for the New Year is for you to have some great rides–to make time for the joy, camaraderie, and connection to the outdoors that bikes reliably deliver. If we can continue to play a part in inspiring and supporting that, we'll know we're doing our jobs.
As we turn our calendars to January, 2024, Ride with GPS once again feels like those first weekends I spent with Cullen. We're back at the whiteboards welcoming that obsessive, shared focus. This time we know we're onto something, and we have the support of an incredible team to deliver it at a world-class level. I can't wait to share that with you, and hear what you think.
In closing, I want to personally thank you for your continued support, and invite you to reach out if you'd like to say hello or share some feedback. We have the best customer support in the industry, but you always have an open line to me (zack@ridewithgps.com) and Cullen (cullen@ridewithgps.com).
Here's to an amazing 2024! Zack Ham Co-Founder & CEO
This weekend only!
Our only discount of the year ends at midnight on January 1st. For $80 you'll get 15 months added to your Premium subscription.
Supercalafragalistic!!! I was trying to think of an adjective to adequately reflect how incredible this car, this company and this video really is. And like someone else pointed out, done with such humble elegance. The engineering and design elegance of this vehicle and the calm, cool and humerus presentation by these three men speak volumes about what now America can claim as our technological leadership in the world. I can’t afford one but boy do I want to drive one. I recent bought a Bolt EUV and it is the best car I’ve ever owned after decades of very nice Honda’s. I’ll be looking to trade in our CRV soon and I’m test driving every car I can get my hands on in these remaining months on my lease. So far I’ve done the Lyriq, Ariya, Blazer, Ionic 6, Mach e, EQS, and the Volvo C40. I plan to rent a Tesla through Turo so I can get a feeling for that. Basically I’m completely sold on total electric. They are so completely quick, quiet, comfortable and completely modern in every way. I think and hope they are the future and its companies like Tesla and people like you who, pioneers in your way, who help create and then lead us into the future. By recognizing China’s investments and both working with while competing with these powerhouse nations on the world stage, you are demonstrating that America continues to be a great nation of imagination, innovation, prosperity and progress.
Dr. Lustig's focus is primarily on the negative effects of added sugars and processed foods on our health. While he doesn't advocate for eliminating any specific food groups entirely, his recommendations generally lean towards prioritizing plant-based foods for optimal metabolic health. This means that while he doesn't necessarily judge beef and fish as inherently unhealthy, he suggests consuming them in moderation and prioritizing other sources of protein like:
Legumes: Beans, lentils, chickpeas, and peas are all excellent sources of plant-based protein and fiber.
Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and hemp seeds are rich in protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients.
Tofu and tempeh: These soy-based foods are complete protein sources and can be used in a variety of dishes.
However, Dr. Lustig acknowledges that beef and fish can be valuable sources of certain nutrients, such as:
Iron: Beef is particularly rich in iron, which is important for preventing anemia.
Vitamin B12: Fish and shellfish are the only reliable sources of vitamin B12, which is essential for nerve function and red blood cell production.
Omega-3 fatty acids: Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart and brain health.
Here's a summary of Dr. Lustig's perspective on beef and fish:
Consume in moderation: He recommends prioritizing plant-based protein sources most of the time and limiting animal protein intake.
Choose quality sources: Opt for grass-fed beef and wild-caught fish whenever possible to ensure higher nutrient content and ethical sourcing.
Focus on cooking methods: Avoid processed meats and fried fish, and prioritize healthier cooking methods like grilling, baking, or poaching.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to include beef and fish in your diet is a personal one. It's important to consider your individual health needs, preferences, and ethical considerations when making choices about your protein intake.
Remember, Dr. Lustig's overall emphasis is on reducing processed foods and added sugars, and focusing on a whole-food approach to eating for optimal health.
Dr. Robert Lustig doesn't advocate for a specific diet plan in the traditional sense, but rather emphasizes a whole-food approach centered around minimizing processed foods and added sugars. He believes focusing on real, unprocessed foods is key to improving metabolic health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
Here are some core principles of Dr. Lustig's approach:
Prioritize whole foods: Think fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats like those found in nuts, seeds, and avocados. These foods are rich in nutrients and fiber, promoting satiety and supporting overall health.
Limit processed foods: Processed foods often contain high amounts of added sugars, unhealthy fats, refined carbohydrates, and artificial ingredients. These ingredients can disrupt metabolism and contribute to chronic disease.
Cut back on sugar: Dr. Lustig strongly advocates for reducing sugar intake, particularly added sugars found in sweetened beverages, desserts, and packaged foods. He views sugar as a "toxin" that negatively impacts metabolic health.
Cook at home: Preparing meals at home allows you to control ingredients and portion sizes, making it easier to adhere to a healthier eating pattern.
Read food labels: Pay attention to ingredients lists and nutrition facts panels to identify hidden sugars, unhealthy fats, and other additives.
While Dr. Lustig doesn't prescribe a specific diet plan, his recommendations align with various evidence-based dietary patterns associated with improved health outcomes, such as:
Mediterranean diet: Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil.
DASH diet: Designed to lower blood pressure, it focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy while limiting red meat, saturated fat, and added sugars.
Plant-based diet: Prioritizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts while limiting or excluding animal products.
Remember, the best diet is one that's sustainable and enjoyable for you. Consult a healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalized guidance and recommendations based on your individual needs and health goals.
Here are some additional resources you might find helpful:
Dr. Lustig's books: "Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Diet-Related Disease," "Sugar: The Bitter Truth," "The Fat Chance Cookbook"
Documentaries featuring Dr. Lustig: "Sugar Coated" and "Fed Up"
I hope this information gives you a better understanding of Dr. Lustig's approach to healthy eating and helps you make informed choices about your own diet.
A YouTube algorithm brought your video to me which I point out because part of your talk mentions the sea of social media that is swallowing us alive. I spend a lot of time watching videos about chess, ai, electric cars and Zen Buddhism. I’ve started referring to this medium as YouTube University. At the same time I avoid all the others that I call anti social media and as Betty White referred to Facebook as a tremendous waste of time. So without intentionally seeking you out, there you were and I was going to move on or back to one of the topics above but the depth and texture of your conversation sucked me in. As I reached the midpoint you talked about Human Nature which I suddenly realized that I had recently purchased. Then, while you were talking I went ahead and bought Mastery and I’ll probably buy the Laws of Power. I’ve reached a point and a time in life where I have more history than future but I have much more time now than before to spend it doing this kind of stuff. I bought the book Human Nature because I am so upset by all the atrocities I witness through the daily bombardment of the news. My own reality is pleasant if not perfect and yet people seem to be consumed in hate. Why? What is Human Nature? And so I bought the book. Your program/interview is great because you take the time to really talk about your topics in depth. So now I think your program will be added to my list. In terms of finding your purpose, you’re doing it. Good Job!!!
Boiling whole sweet potatoes is a simple and healthy way to prepare them for your casserole. Here's how to do it safely and effectively:
Ingredients:
Sweet potatoes (choose ones of similar size for even cooking)
Water
Salt (optional)
Instructions:
Wash the sweet potatoes. Scrub them thoroughly under running water with a vegetable brush to remove any dirt or grit.
Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot. Make sure the pot is big enough to hold all the potatoes in a single layer without overcrowding.
Fill the pot with cold water. Cover the potatoes with at least 1 inch of water. You can add a pinch of salt to the water for extra flavor, but this is optional.
Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 30-45 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Test for doneness. Insert a fork or knife into the thickest part of a potato. If it slides in easily, the potatoes are done. If not, continue cooking for a few more minutes.
Drain the potatoes. Carefully pour the hot water out of the pot, using a colander to catch the potatoes.
Let the potatoes cool slightly before handling. Once they are cool enough to touch, you can peel them (if desired) and cut them into the desired size for your casserole.
Tips:
For even faster cooking, you can pierce the sweet potatoes a few times with a fork before boiling.
If you're short on time, you can also microwave the sweet potatoes. Simply wash, pierce, and place them in a microwave-safe bowl with a little water. Microwave on high for 5-7 minutes per potato, or until tender.
Be careful not to overcook the sweet potatoes, as they can become mushy.
Safety tips:
Always use caution when working with hot water and steam.
Let the potatoes cool slightly before handling them to avoid burns.
Use a sharp knife to cut the potatoes, and be careful not to cut yourself.
I hope this helps! Enjoy your delicious homemade casserole!
Monday, December 18, 2023
Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation is Christmas in our family…. Or at least it is for me. I watch it Every Year but sometimes let my wife off the hook. Chevy is the quintessential well meaning dad who sinks deeper and deeper into total mania but deep in his heart he still wants to believe. Somehow I knew this clip would be out here on YouTube. I’m so happy that others share in my sense of nostalgia and yes every year I see a little something new and can relate to every character so faithfully portrayed. Merry Christmas Everybody!!!
A group of 18 California children – ranging in ages from 8 to 17 – has filed a new constitutional climate case in federal court against the US Environmental Protection Agency, alleging it has harmed children's health and welfare over decades.
The case, Genesis B. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, alleges the EPA "intentionally allows" planet warming pollution to come from the sources it regulates, such as vehicles and heavy-duty trucks, power plants, and oil and gas wells. It follows the first constitutional climate case in the US, which youth plaintiffs successfully tried in Montana earlier this year.
The case further alleges the agency allows this pollution "despite knowing the harm it causes to children's health and welfare." The case was filed Sunday night in US District Court in the Central District of California.
From: IMDb Support <do-not-reply-here@imdb.com> Date: December 12, 2023 at 5:12:19 AM EST To: peteandtess@gmail.com Subject:IMDb update receipt #231212-095255-677304
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Text: I'm always impressed by writers, directors and actors who can capture human emotions and personalities with a depth of understanding that most of us can experience but never put into words. This film was so subtle and so worth watching and yet I've never heard of it and pretty much just stumbled into it one night, like hey do you want to try this?
Written and directed by Bonnie Hunt, I just had no idea how talented she is. I would put this film far and above any of the big budget block busters that get so much attention. Mini Driver was just so endearing that as a father you just want to hold her, love and protect her, which Carol O'Conner conveyed in ways that Archie Buncker never could. David Duchovny was such a real and honorable man, they were deserving of each other and you were cheering for each other throughout. I thought, a very clever scene, when his friend convinced to get out and date someone just illustrated so well how sometimes being out with the wrong person can be worse than being alone. How Bonnie Hunt was able to capture these stark personality types I think is an amazing skill. I don't know if I'll check spoiler alert but if you have a heart you need to watch this movie. It speaks to our humanity and shows us what love is.
From: IMDb Support <do-not-reply-here@imdb.com> Date: December 12, 2023 at 5:29:03 AM EST To: peteandtess@gmail.com Subject:IMDb update receipt #231212-102335-885504
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Text: I'm always impressed by writers, directors and actors who can capture human emotions and personalities with a depth of understanding that most of us can experience but never put into words. This film was so subtle and so worth watching and yet I've never heard of it and pretty much just stumbled into it one night, like hey do you want to try this?
Written and directed by Bonnie Hunt, I just had no idea how talented she is. I would put this film far and above any of the big budget block busters that get so much attention. Mini Driver was just so endearing that as a father you just want to hold her, love and protect her, which Carol O'Conner conveyed in ways that Archie Buncker never could. David Duchovny was such a real and honorable man, they were deserving of each other and you were cheering for each other throughout. I thought, a very clever scene, when his friend convinced to get out and date someone just illustrated so well how sometimes being out with the wrong person can be worse than being alone. How Bonnie Hunt was able to capture these stark personality types I think is an amazing skill. I don't know if I'll check spoiler alert but if you have a heart you need to watch this movie. It speaks to our humanity and shows us what love is.
Summary: A truly wonderful story and quality film
After
Text: I'm always impressed by writers, directors and actors who can capture human emotions and personalities with a depth of understanding that most of us can experience but never put into words. This film was so subtle and so worth watching and yet I've never heard of it and pretty much just stumbled into it one night, like hey do you want to try this?
Written and directed by Bonnie Hunt, I just had no idea how talented she is. I would put this film far and above any of the big budget block busters that get so much attention. Mini Driver was just so endearing that as a father you just want to hold her, love and protect her, which Carol O'Conner conveyed in ways that Archie Buncker never could. David Duchovny was such a real and honorable man, they were deserving of each other and you were cheering for each other throughout. I thought, a very clever scene, when his friend convinced to get out and date someone just illustrated so well how sometimes being out with the wrong person can be worse than being alone. How Bonnie Hunt was able to capture these stark personality types I think is an amazing skill. I don't know if I'll check spoiler alert but if you have a heart you need to watch this movie. It speaks to our humanity and shows us what love is.
A quick nod to everyone here who also loved and appreciated the depth of this movie... it feels like community and I hope that Bonnie Hunt and her cast and crew know how much their work is appreciated.
I'm always impressed by writers, directors and actors who can capture human emotions and personalities with a depth of understanding that most of us can experience but never put into words. This film was so subtle and so worth watching and yet I've never heard of it and pretty much just stumbled into it one night, like hey do you want to try this?
Written and directed by Bonnie Hunt, I just had no idea how talented she is, I would put this film far and above any of the big budget block busters that get so much attention. Mini Driver was just so endearing that, as a father, you just want to hold her, love and protect her, which Carol O'Conner conveyed in ways that Archie Buncker never could. David Duchovny was such a real and honorable man, they were deserving of each other and you were cheering for each of them throughout. I thought, a very clever scene, when his friend convinced to get out and date someone just illustrated so well how sometimes being out with the wrong person can be worse than being alone. How Bonnie Hunt was able to capture these stark personality types I think is an amazing skill. I don't know if I'll check spoiler alert but if you have a heart you need to watch this movie. It speaks to our humanity and shows us what love is. As I now glance over the many like minded reviews I feel as if I’m part of a community. I only hope that Bonnie Hunts and her crew are made aware of how much the depth and quality of their work is appreciated. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122459/reviews/
Holly Madison Talks Being Diagnosed with Autism: 'I'm Just Not on the Same Social Wavelength'
"[When] interacting with anybody, just have a little bit of patience because you don't know what they're dealing with or what their level of social function is," Madison said
Holly Madison.Photo:
Denise Truscello/WireImage
Published on December 8, 2023 09:52PM EST
Holly Madison is opening up about her autism diagnosis.
During a recent appearance on the Talking to Death podcast, the former Playboy Bunny-turned-entrepreneur explained her experience with autism and how it impacts her relationship with others to host Payne Lindsey.
"The doctor told me that I have high executive functioning, which means I can pretty much go about my life and do things 'normally,'" the 43-year-old said.
"I think because I'm more quiet, I've only recently learned to make eye contact, I'm often in my own thoughts, things like that, so people take that as offensive. They're like, 'Damn, you're not super interested in me, f--- you,'" she explained with a laugh. "Like, I'm just not on the same social wavelength as other people but don't take it personally. So I like being able to explain that."
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave, according to the National Institutes of Health. Although it can be diagnosed at any age, symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.
Madison continued, "I also don't really have a gauge for when other people are gonna be done speaking so I tend to interrupt a lot, which pisses people off."
"You're doing fine right now," Lindsey said before the Down the Rabbit Hole author replied, "Thanks, I'm learning."
He then asked what message Madison would like to share with people about autism and her experience living with the disorder.
"That everybody operates differently and [when] interacting with anybody, just have a little bit of patience because you don't know what they're dealing with or what their level of social function is," she said.
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Holly Madison.
Denise Truscello/WireImage
Madison first talked about not being "neurotypical" and having "a hard time fitting in" while growing up during an April 2021 appearance on the Call Her Daddypodcast.
The Girls Next Door star told host Alex Cooper that she believed she had Asperger's and was contemplating seeing a doctor. Asperger's syndrome and autism both come under the autism spectrum disorder.
"I want to go get diagnosed because I've always had a difficult time connecting with other people," she said at the time.
Madison later confirmed in September on the Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe podcast that she received a "formal diagnosis" as "someone on the spectrum."
This statement emphasizes the connection between our desires and our suffering. When we attach ourselves to things, people, or outcomes, we inevitably experience pain when they change or disappear.
Here are some additional Buddha quotes about suffering:
"Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."
"The way to end suffering is to end craving."
"Suffering is not always a bad thing. It can teach us valuable lessons."
"The only way to escape suffering is to let go of attachment."
"Happiness is not the absence of suffering; it is the ability to cope with it."
These quotes offer different perspectives on suffering and encourage us to develop a more mindful and accepting approach to life's challenges.
How did Jesus' parents become a couple? Here's what biblical scholars say.
The story of Jesus's birth is oft told, but Mary and Joseph's unconventional courtship can also be found in the history of ancient Palestine.
In the New Testament, the Gospels tell the story of Jesus' birth—the first Christmas. Set during the rise of the Roman Empire, the stories create a radiant image of a young couple giving birth to the son of God in Bethlehem. The Christian world has embraced the faithful story of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus for centuries. Yet, in those times—even without getting into the plausibility of a virgin birth—their situation would have been considered scandalous. Becoming pregnant out of wedlock was a crime punishable by death.
So how did this disreputable situation turn into a cornerstone of Christianity celebrated with tidings of comfort and joy to this day? That's a question that's been asked for 2,000 years. Here's what some biblical scholars claim.
Betrothal
The historical documentation for Mary comes from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, written roughly between A.D. 70 and 110. Mary, believed to have been quite beautiful, was born to Anne and Joachim in Nazareth. She would have had Middle Eastern features, with dark hair and eyes and spoken an Aramaic patois.
She would have married young, as all girls did at the time since most people did not live more than a few decades.
An 18th-century painting on cloth of Mary and Jesus at the Addis Ababa Museum.
Painting via Werner Forman Archive, Bridgeman Images
"There is no luxury called adolescence in that world," noted Byron McCane, a historian at Florida Atlantic University. "As soon as young men and women show they are capable of reproducing, they get married and start to have children."
Families arranged these unions, and it is possible that in such as place as Nazareth, which had only a few hundred people, Mary would have known Joseph. In the tradition of ancient Jewish people, Mary and Joseph became betrothed, the first part of a two-stage Jewish wedding ceremony.
For the initial part, called the erusin, Joseph would give a mohar, a dowry, to Mary's family. At that point, he and Mary were legally wed. Yet by tradition, while they were married, the wife continued to live with her parents for about a year after the betrothal. During that time, Mary and Joseph would look forward to a missuin, a wedding ceremony, after which she would move out of her parents' home.
The Annunciation
But following the erusin, while she was still living with her parents, Mary became pregnant. There is no hard proof about how this happened, but according to the Book of Luke, one of two Gospels that describe the birth of Jesus in the New Testament, the angel Gabriel appeared to the teenager, informing her she had been chosen by God: "And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus'" (Luke 1:28).
This news confused the young woman, who had no idea how this could be, since she had not had relations with Joseph. According to Luke, Gabriel explained that although she was still a virgin, a transcendent event would occur. "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you," he said, and "therefore the child to be born will be called holy; . . . the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).
According to the Book of Matthew, when Joseph learned of his betrothed's pregnancy, he was not happy. Observing the Bible's commandments and, hoping not to cause Mary any embarrassment, he sought to quietly end the erusin. As he thought about how he would do this, he fell asleep. According to the Book of Matthew, an angel appeared in his dream, telling him, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:20). When Joseph awoke, he understood Mary had been faithful, and they went through with the nissuin, taking "his wife into his home."
Pregnancy's implications
Angelic vision or not, being pregnant outside marriage could be a dangerous thing. "Once you are betrothed, it is considered adultery," said Carol Meyers, a professor of religion at Duke University. Despite the biblical edict mandating that when "a man commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death," stoning was not always carried out.
Even so, Mary's pregnancy would be looked down upon by the community, and it could also visit shame on her family. Nazareth was a small place, and neighbors not only knew each other's business but had long communal memories. There were also important social and familial implications for Mary and Joseph. Theirs was a kinship-based society, and a person's identity was established through the father's line, as laid out in the first chapter of the Book of Matthew, which details the male lineage of Jesus' family starting with the patriarch Abraham.
"They wanted to know that all of those children were of that father," noted McCane, "because he has to support them."
Who was Joseph?
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus fled to Egypt to avoid Herod's murderous wrath.
Painting by Murillo Bartolomé Esteban via Adolfo Bezzi/Electa/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty
While Joseph could claim royal descent, the Books of Matthew and Mark both refer to him as a carpenter. Yet the Greek word that Mark used is tektõn and its meaning is closer to the Aramaic word naggara, which means a worker or journeyman. Most of Jesus' parables refer to agriculture, so it is likely that Joseph farmed, with carpentry, which he taught Jesus, as a sideline. He might have even done some work at the nearby city of Sepphoris, a spot that the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus called "the Jewel of Galilee," which was being rebuilt at the time by Herod Antipas.
Tax burden
The ancient Jewish population was obliged to pay taxes to Rome and to King Herod, as well as to tithe of their harvest to the Temple. As it was a census year, the expectant couple, according to the Books of Matthew and Luke, headed to Bethlehem to pay what had been mandated by Caesar Augustus. The trip would take Mary and Joseph about a week to travel from Nazareth, and they probably made their way south along a route where they could stop at springs to rest and find shelter in small towns.
The birth
When the couple arrived in Bethlehem, the Gospels tell us that Mary went into labor. They needed a place for her to give birth, yet there was no room for them in the local inn, so they may have taken refuge in a limestone cave used to corral domesticated animals. Some, however, argue they actually stayed with family, in a guest room that in a Palestinian home would have been a lower room where animals were kept. Whatever the case, Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem, an event that would be celebrated for thousands of years to come as Christmas.
Church of the Nativity
The Church of the Nativity
Photograph via Pantheon Studios, Inc
Travelers to the West Bank often visit Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, which is believed to mark the site of Jesus' birth. In the second century, Saint Justin Martyr identified the cave where Mary gave birth to Jesus. During the fourth century, Emperor Constantine and his mother had a basilica built there, which Samaritan rebels destroyed in the sixth century. Emperor Justinian rebuilt it soon after; inside lay the sacred grotto, the spot of the miraculous birth marked by an altar with a 14-point silver star embedded in a marble floor. The site is currently maintained by clergy members of the Roman Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, and Greek Orthodox Churches.
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